Before the season began, there were questions about how long it would take Aaron Donald to get back to his usual form after missing all of camp because of his holdout. Well, it took almost no time for him to become his dominant self, proving to be exactly that through his first five games of the season.

His ability to ramp up his production so quickly might make some wonder how he does it. As it turns out, he doesn’t just outwork everyone on the field and in the weight room. Donald puts in plenty of time in the film room.

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Sean McVay shared a story from last week where he caught Donald studying film more than six hours after practice ended, staying at the facility past 10 p.m.

“I was leaving on Thursday night around 9:30 p.m. or 10 – you’re leaving, which is when you typically ramp up the game plan, you get the red zone in the next day – and there was a car … his car was there,” McVay said. “I went into the D-line room and he was in there studying tape and studying the way guys set on pass plays and things like that.”

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Donald is obviously a physical specimen with strong hands, one of the quickest first steps in the NFL and the strength of a 6-foot-10 strongman competitor. Those are the primary reasons he pressures the quarterback more than any other interior defender – and even more than some teams in a given week.

However, his dedication to studying tape and putting in time in the film room is what sets him apart from the rest of the pack. And the craziest part of it all is that stories like this are completely normal for him; McVay simply had yet to experience it for himself.

“I said, ‘Man, what are you doing?’ He said studying his deal, doing his normal routine,” McVay said. “Which guys that have been around him that’s not a surprise. But as I get more familiar with Aaron and I think more than anything, you just walk away and say I sure am glad that guy’s on our team.”

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Donald had 10 quarterback pressures on Sunday, which as many as the Chiefs and Chargers had combined in their Week 6 games. He also added a sack, a forced fumble and three quarterback hits. It was arguably his best performance of the season, consistently getting into the Jaguars’ backfield against both the run and pass.

If he keeps up this sort of production, he’s only going to command more money from the Rams when it comes time to sign him to a contract extension. The longer they wait, the more it’s going to cost them.

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